Remote control bobbin case exchanger device

ABSTRACT

In a remote control bobbin case exchanger device ( 1 ), a rotary bobbin (K) is to be placed in a position that is not easily accessed, and an exchangeable position (α) is provided in a position that is readily accessed in a bobbin case providing member ( 3 ). A chuck driving member ( 6 ) moves a chuck member ( 5 ) toward the rotary bobbin (K) to clutch a bobbin case ( 2 ) along a line connecting the rotary bobbin (K) to the exchangeable position (α). With the action of the chuck driving member ( 6 ) and the chuck member ( 5 ), it is possible to remove the bobbin case ( 2 ) from an inaccessible rotary bobbin (K) to replace the bobbin case ( 2 ) with a new one in the exchangeable position (α)

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remote control bobbin case exchangerdevice well-suited for a sewing machine in which a rotary bobbin isplaced inaccessibly, and particularly concerns a remote control bobbincase exchanger device better-suited for an industrial sewing machine inwhich a plurality of embroideries are wrought out concurrently.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In a sewing machine in which a bobbin case is provided within a rotarybobbin so as to supply an under thread, an amount of the under threadwound to the bobbin is very small compared to that of an upper thread.This necessitates to frequently set and remove bobbin cases so as toreplace the bobbins.

Take for example an industrial sewing machine. In such a machine it isoften difficult to access where a rotary bobbin is placed. This makes itcumbersome and time-consuming to exchange the bobbin cases. This becomesone of the factors to reduce efficiency with a deteriorated workabilityparticularly in the industrial sewing machine in which the bobbin casesare to be frequently exchanged.

This is all the more true especially in an industrial embroidery sewingmachine in which a plurality of embroideries are concurrently wroughtout necessitating the exchange of a significant number of the bobbincases (e.g., 6˜15) at the same time. When the rotary bobbin is placedinaccessibly, it takes a long time to exchange the bobbin cases, therebysubstantially reducing a sewing workability upon replacing the bobbincases.

Therefore, the present invention was made with the above drawbacks inmind. It is a main object of the invention to provide a remote controlbobbin case exchanger device which is capable of readily exchangingbobbin cases under the circumstances in which a rotary bobbin is placedinaccessibly.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention adopts the following means.

[1] A remote control bobbin case exchanger device comprising:

(a) a bobbin case providing member placed remote from a rotary bobbin ofa sewing machine so as to provide a bobbin case in an exchangeableposition;

(b) a chuck member provided to exchange the bobbin case

(c) a chuck driving member provided to transfer the chuck member towardthe rotary bobbin and the exchangeable position;

(d) the chuck driving member including;

(i) a cam plate having a cammed groove directed to the rotary bobbin andhaving a regulation groove provided along the cammed groove anddetermined over its trajectory so as to be shorter than the cammedgroove;

(ii) a neck transfer body having a regulation slider rotationallysupported around a regulation axis which is movably provided along theregulation groove, and a follower slider having a movement axis slidablyprovided against the regulation slider within a predetermined range tomove along the cammed groove; and

(iii) a movement axis driving member provided to reciprocally drive themovement axis along the cammed groove.

[2] According to another aspect of the invention, the movement axisdriving member comprises;

a slider bar provided in parallel with the cam plate;

a drive slider movably provided along the slider bar to interfit themovement axis via a drive escape groove oriented in the same directionin which the cammed groove develops; and

a chuck transferal actuator provided to reciprocally move the driveslider along the slider bar.

[3] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the chucktransferal actuator comprises a combination of;

a long range air cylinder provided to travel the drive slider in anextended distance; and

a short range air cylinder provided to travel the drive slider in ashorter distance.

[4] According to still another aspect of the invention, the bobbin caseproviding member comprises a case mounting member, an outside of whichhas a plurality of bobbin cases removably mounted thereon; and

a rotary drive member provided to rotationally drive the case mountingmember.

[Operation]

With an actuation of the movement axis driving member, the movement axismoves along the cammed groove. With the movement of the movement axis,the follower slider moves along the cammed groove.

In combination with the movement of the follower slider, the regulationslider moves in which the regulation axis interfits the regulationgroove.

For the reason that the regulation groove is shorter than the cammedgroove, the neck transfer body rotationally moves around the regulationaxis to send the chuck member toward the rotary bobbin when the movementaxis moves toward the rotary bobbin, and the neck transfer bodyrotationally moves around the regulation axis to send the chuck membertoward the exchangeable position when the movement axis moves toward theexchangeable position.

In this way, when the movement axis drive member moves the movement axisalong the cammed groove, the chuck member moves toward the rotary bobbinand the exchangeable position alternately with the assist of thefollower slider.

Subsequent to the action of the movement axis drive member, the bobbincase within the rotary bobbin is replaced with another bobbin case.

[Removal of Bobbin Case]

With the movement axis actuated by the movement axis drive member, thechuck member moves toward the rotary bobbin so that the chuck memberholds the bobbin case within the rotary bobbin.

Then, the movement axis moves the chuck member toward the exchangeableposition. The bobbin case which the chuck member holds may be releasedor return to a free space within the exchangeable position during whichthe chuck member reaches the exchangeable position after the bobbin caseis removed from the rotary bobbin.

It is to be noted that the bobbin case which the chuck member holdsreturns to the free space within the exchangeable position, and areplacement bobbin case is subsequently supplied by the bobbin caseproviding member.

[How the Bobbin Case is Exchanged]

With the chuck member sent to the exchangeable position by the movementaxis, it is possible for the chuck member to hold the bobbin caseintroduced in the exchangeable position.

With the action of the movement axis, it is possible to move the chuckmember toward the rotary bobbin so as to set the bobbin case in therotary bobbin, and thereafter release the replacement bobbin case fromthe chuck member.

With the use of the remote control bobbin case exchanger device, it ispossible to readily exchange the bobbin case by a new one because thebobbin case providing member is placed in the accessible position haunder the circumstances in which the rotary bobbin is inaccessibleyplaced. This reduces the burdens to which the sewing workers owe, andsignificantly mitigate the time required to exchange the under threadwith an ameliorated workability.

This is all the more true especially in the industrial sewing machine inwhich a plurality of sewings (e.g., embroideries) are concurrentlywrought out. By mounting the remote control bobbin case exchangerdevices on the respective rotary bobbins, it is possible to exchange theplurality of the bobbin cases simultaneously, and thereby substantiallyameliorating a sewing workability upon exchanging the bobbin cases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a remote control bobbin caseexchanger device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the remote control bobbin case exchangerdevice; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of an industrial embroiderysewing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

1—remote control bobbin case exchanger device

2—bobbin case

3—bobbin case providing member

5—chuck member

6—chuck driving member

7—rotary axis (rotary drive member)

9—case mounting member

10—rotary drive device (rotary drive member)

20—cam plate

21—neck transfer body

22—movement axis drive member

23—cammed groove

24—regulation groove

25—regulation axis

26—regulation slider

28—follower slider

29—movement axis

30—slider bar

31—drive slider

31 a—drive escape groove

32—chuck transferal actuator

32 a—long range air cylinder

32 b—short range air cylinder

K—rotary bobbin

M—sewing machine

α—exchangeable position

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A best mode of an embodiment upon carrying out the invention isdescribed below.

[Structure of Embodiment]

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3 which schematically shows a remote control bobbincase exchanger device 1 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the bobbin case exchanger device 1 is incorporated into anindustrial embroidery sewing machine (M) in which a plurality ofembroideries are concurrently wrought out. Placed behind a periphery end(Ta) of the sewing table (T), is a rotary bobbin (K) which is generallyplaced in a difficult position for sewing workers to access.

The remote control bobbin case exchanger device 1 has a bobbin caseproviding member 3 which supplies a replacement bobbin case 2 to anexchangeable position (α). A chuck member 5 is provided to clutch thebobbin case 2 upon exchanging the bobbin cases. A chuck driving member 6is provided to move the chuck member 5 toward the rotary bobbin (K), andmoving the chuck member 5 toward the replacement bobbin case 2 suppliedby the bobbin case providing member 3.

The bobbin case providing member 3 is placed in the periphery end (Ta)of the sewing table (T) so that the sewing workers can access easily. Onan underside of the sewing table (T), a rotary axis 7 is rotationallyprovided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of bobbin core pins 8, 8 isfirmly fixed to the rotary axis 7 via a collar to extend in adiametrically (180°) opposed direction so as to form a case mountingmember 9 in which the replacement bobbin case and the consumed bobbincase 2 are to be mounted. A rotary drive device 10 is provided torotationally reverse the rotary axis 7 by 180 degrees.

A rotary drive device 10 has a pinion 10 a attached to the rotary axis 7and having a rack 10 b which meshes with the pinion 10 a. An aircylinder 10 c is provided to reciprocally move the rack 10 b. The rotaryaxis 7 coupled with the rotary drive device 10 forms a rotary drivemember. With an actuation of the air cylinder 10 c, it is possible torotationally move the rotary axis 7 by 180 degrees through the motion ofthe rack 10 b and the pinion 10 a.

One of the bobbin core pins 8, 8 has the replacement bobbin case 2, andthe other bobbin core pin 8 is left empty. When the empty bobbin corepin 8 located in the exchangeable position (α) receives the consumedbobbin case 2, the bobbin case providing member 3 actuates the aircylinder 10 c to rotationally reverse the rotary axis 7 by 180 degreesto supply the replacement bobbin case 2 in the exchangeable position(α). The air cylinder 10 c is controlled by a control circuit (notshown) so that the case mounting member 9 rotationally moves.

The chuck member 5 is secured to a follower slider 28 (described indetail hereinafter), and has a support plate 12 which holds acylindrical end of a bobbin case body 11 as shown in FIG. 2. The chuckmember 5 further has a pawl 14 which raises a lock lever 13 of thereplacement and consumed bobbin case 2. An engagement piece 15 isprovided in the manner to sandwich the lock lever 13 with the pawl 14.

The pawl 14 pivotally moves in such a direction as to raise a claw ofthe lock lever 13 with an actuation of an air cylinder 16, and isreleased to an original position by a return spring (not shown). Whenthe chuck member 5 removes the consumed bobbin case 2 from the rotarybobbin (K), the pawl 14 pivots to raise the lock lever 13. Once theconsumed bobbin case 2 is handed to the empty bobbin core pin 8 of thecase mounting member 9, the pawl 14 returns to the original position.Then, the pawl 14 pivots to raise the lock lever 13 again, and returnsto the original position when the chuck member 5 hands the replacementbobbin case 2 to the rotary bobbin (K).

In this instance, it is to be noted that the air cylinder 16 iscontrolled by the control circuit so that the pawl 14 rotationally movesas above.

The chuck driving member 6 mainly constitutes a cam plate 20, necktransfer body 21 and a movement axis drive member 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cam plate 20 is firmly placed in a position inwhich an extension line of the exchangeable position (α) and anextension line of the rotary bobbin (K) meet. The cam plate 20 has acammed groove 23 oriented toward the exchangeable position (α) and therotary bobbin (K), and having a regulation groove 24 along the cammedgroove 23 but shorter than the cammed groove 23.

The cammed groove 23 has a first linear groove 23 a oriented toward anaxis of the rotary bobbin (K), a second linear groove 23 b orientedtoward the bobbin core pin 8, and having a third groove 23 c whichconnects the first linear groove 23 a and the second linear groove 23 b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the regulation groove 24 is located substantially atthe same level of both the first linear groove 23 a and the secondlinear groove 23 b.

The neck transfer body 21 has a regulation axis 25 movably interfit intothe regulation groove 24, and having a regulation slider 26 rotationallysupported around the regulation axis 25. The neck transfer body 21further has a follower slider 28 connected to the regulation slider 26via rods 27, 27. The follower slider 28 is rockably mounted around theregulation axis 25 within a predetermined angle. To the follower slider28, the chuck member 5 is secured and a movement axis 29 is attached toreciprocally move along the cammed groove 23.

For the reason that the movement axis 29 interfits into the cammedgroove 23, and the regulation axis 25 interfits into the regulationgroove 24, the neck transfer body 21 inclines to such a degree asdetermined by the positional relationship between the regulation axis 25and the movement axis 29. The neck transfer body 21 slides to such adegree as determined by the movement axis drive member 22.

When the movement axis 29 moves along the cammed groove 23, the followerslider 28 moves along the first, second and third grooves 23 a, 23 b, 23c so as to incline in accordance with the position in which theregulation axis 25 occupies in the regulation groove 24.

Due to the fact that the regulation groove 24 is shorter than the cammedgroove 23, and located substantially at the same level in which thefirst linear groove 23 a and the second linear groove 23 b occupiesrespectively, when the movement axis 29 approaches the rotary bobbin(K), the follower slider 28 and the chuck member 5 are oriented towardthe rotary bobbin (K). Conversely when the movement axis 29 approachesthe exchangeable position (α), the follower slider 28 and the chuckmember 5 are directed toward the exchangeable position (α).

The movement axis drive member 22 reciprocally moves the movement axis29 along the cammed groove 23. The movement axis drive member 22 has aslider bar 30 placed in parallel with the cam plate 20, and has a driveslider 31 which is to fit into the movement axis 29 via a drive escapegroove 31 a provided in a direction which the cammed groove 23 develops.A chuck transferal actuator 32 is provided to reciprocally move thedrive slider 31 along the slider bar 30.

In this instance, as shown in FIG. 2, the chuck transferal actuator 32is formed herein by combining a long range air cylinder 32 a whichtravels the drive slider 31 in an extended distance, and a short rangeair cylinder 32 b which travels the drive slider 31 in a shorterdistance. However, instead of the two air cylinders 32 a, 32 b, a singlelengthened air cylinder may be used.

The long range air cylinder 32 a and the short range air cylinder 32 bare commonly connected at their movable rod, and controlled by thecontrol circuit. The long range air cylinder 32 a is secured to thesewing machine (M), and the short range air cylinder 32 b moves with thedrive slider 31.

[How Remote Control Bobbin Case Exchanger Device Works]

With the long range air cylinder 32 a retracted inward and the shortrange air cylinder 32 b protracted outward, the movement axis 29 islocated a little away (approx. 30 mm) from the end of the first lineargroove 23 a so that the chuck member 5 waits at the position somewhatfar from the rotary bobbin (K).

In this situation, when the control circuit receives a manual signalfrom the sewing worker or receiving an electronic signal from anautomatic under thread exchanger, the remote control bobbin caseexchanger device 1 is activated. This retracts the short range aircylinder 32 b to move the movement axis 29 to one end of the firstlinear groove 23 a so that the chuck member 5 moves to clutch theconsumed bobbin case 2.

When the chuck member 5 clutches the consumed bobbin case 2, the longrange air cylinder 32 a and the short range air cylinder 32 b protractsoutward respectively to move the movement axis 29 to one end of thesecond linear groove 23 b. This movement rotationally reverses the necktransfer body 21 around the regulation axis 25 by 180 degrees so thatthe chuck member 5 hands the consumed bobbin case 2 over the emptybobbin core pin 8 which occupies the exchangeable position (α).

Once the chuck member 5 releases the consumed bobbin case 2, the shortrange air cylinder 32 b retracts inward. Then, the movement axis 29moves a little away (approx. 20 mm) from the end of the second lineargroove 23 b while making the chuck member 5 wait at the position alittle away from the case mounting member 9 during the time which thecase mounting member 9 rotationally moves in the reverse direction.

In combination with the reverse movement of the case mounting member 9,the replacement bobbin case 2 is sent to the exchangeable position (α)to protract the short range air cylinder 32 b outward. This moves themovement axis 29 to the end of the second linear groove 23 b again sothat the chuck member 5 moves to the exchangeable position (α) so as toclutch the replacement bobbin case 2.

When the chuck member 5 clutches the replacement bobbin case 2, the longrange air cylinder 32 a and the short range air cylinder 32 b retractsinward respectively so as to move the movement axis 29 to the end of thefirst linear groove 23 a. This movement rotationally reverses the necktransfer body 21 around the regulation axis 25 by 180 degrees so thatthe chuck member 5 moves toward the rotary bobbin (K) to set thereplacement bobbin case 2 within the rotary bobbin (K).

When the chuck member 5 releases the replacement bobbin case 2 withinthe rotary bobbin (K), the short range air cylinder 32 b protractsoutward. Then, the movement axis 29 returns to the original position inwhich the movement axis 29 is a little away from the end of the firstlinear groove 23 a while the chuck member 5 waits a little away from therotary bobbin (K).

With the actions described above, it is possible to replace the consumedbobbin case with the replacement bobbin case upon resuming the sewingoperation.

It is further possible to save the loss of time by having beforehandreplaced the consumed bobbin case on the case mounting member 9 with thereplacement bobbin case.

[Advantages]

With the use of the remote control bobbin case exchanger device 1, it ispossible to readily exchange the bobbin case by a new one because thebobbin case providing member is placed in the accessible position underthe circumstances in which the rotary bobbin (K) is inaccessibleyplaced. This reduces the burdens to which the sewing workers haveusually owed, and significantly reduces the time required to exchangethe under thread with the ameliorated workability.

This is all the more true especially in the industrial sewing machine(M) in which a plurality of embroideries are concurrently wrought out.By mounting the remote control bobbin case exchanger devices on therespective rotary bobbins, it is possible to exchange the plurality ofthe bobbin cases 2 simultaneously, and thereby substantiallyameliorating a sewing workability upon exchanging the bobbin cases 2.

With the use of the long range air cylinder 32 a and the short range aircylinder 32 b combined as the chuck transferal actuator 32, it ispossible to reduce their travel distances. This makes it possible todispense with the concomitant plays of the chuck member 5, and therebyexchanging the consumed bobbin case 2 with the replacement bobbin casefor a short period of time with a good workability.

[Modification Form]

It is to be observed that hydraulic cylinders and a servomotor can beused instead of the air cylinders 10 c, 16, 32 a, 32 b used in theembodiment of the invention.

It is also to be noted that motion of the sewing machine (M) may beutilized via a gear train or belts to move the component parts which theair cylinders 10 c, 16, 32 a, 32 b otherwise would have to actuate.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote control bobbin case exchanger devicecomprising: (a) a bobbin case providing member (3) placed remote from arotary bobbin (K) of a sewing machine (M) so as to provide a bobbin case(2) in an exchangeable position (α); (b) a chuck member (5) provided toexchange the bobbin case (2); (c) a chuck driving member (6) provided totransfer the chuck member (5) toward the rotary bobbin (K) and theexchangeable position (α); (d) the chuck driving member (6) including;(i) a cam plate (20) having a cammed groove (23) directed to the rotarybobbin (K) and having a regulation groove (24) provided along the cammedgroove (23) and determined over its trajectory so as to be shorter thanthe cammed groove (23); (ii) a neck transfer body (21) having aregulation slider (26) rotationally supported around a regulation axis(25) which is movably provided along the regulation groove (24), and afollower slider (28) having a movement axis (29) slidably providedagainst the regulation slider (26) within a predetermined range to movealong the cammed groove (23); and (iii) a movement axis drive member(22) provided to reciprocally drive the movement axis (29) along thecammed groove (23).
 2. A remote control bobbin case exchanger device asset forth in claim 1, wherein the movement axis drive member (22)comprises; a slider bar (30) provided in parallel with the cam plate(20); a drive slider (31) movably provided along the slider bar (30) tointerfit the movement axis (29) via a drive escape groove (31 a)oriented in the same direction in which the cammed groove (23) develops;and a chuck transferal actuator (32) provided to reciprocally move thedrive slider (31) along the slider bar (30).
 3. A remote control bobbincase exchanger device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the chucktransferal actuator (32) comprises a combination of; a long range aircylinder (32 a) provided to travel the drive slider (31) in an extendeddistance; and a short range air cylinder (32 b) provided to travel thedrive slider (31) in a shorter distance.
 4. A remote control bobbin caseexchanger device as set forth in any one of claims 1˜3, wherein thebobbin case providing member (3) comprises a case mounting member (9),an outside of which has a plurality of bobbin cases (2) removablymounted thereon; and a rotary drive member (10) provided to rotationallydrive the case mounting member (9).